Productivity might be determined by the time of the day at which you indulge in your activities. A new study suggests that the most productive time to spend working is the first two hours after waking up. On the other hand, the least productive time falls right around 3 p.m.

Psychologists argue that the brain gets tired just like the body does – they use the term “decision fatigue” to describe it.

Decision-making requires mental energy. When you make a decision, the daily supply of that energy is being used up. This can be compared to how we use up energy when lifting weights such that there comes a time where we can no more take the physical activity.

“Making decisions uses the very same willpower that you use to say no to doughnuts, drugs, or illicit sex,” says Roy F. Baumeister, a psychologist studying decision fatigue.

“It’s the same willpower that you use to be polite or to wait your turn or to drag yourself out of bed or to hold off going to the bathroom,” Baumeister said in a statement.

“Your ability to make the right investment or hiring decision may be reduced simply because you expended some of your willpower earlier when you held your tongue in response to someone’s offensive remark or when you exerted yourself to get to the meeting on time.”

This also implies that people with great responsibilities such as judges are affected by decision fatigue. For instance, researchers have found that the more fresh judges’ minds are, the more positive are their rulings.

To conclude, the findings suggest that the mind will be more resourceful just after waking up. At that time, the person will be more able to deal with complex situations.